LONG BEACH — A DUI/Driver License checkpoint conducted by the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) over the weekend resulted in 13 citations but no arrests for impaired driving, raising questions about the effectiveness of such operations.
The checkpoint took place on Sept. 12, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. at Pacific Coast Highway and Loynes Drive. According to LBPD, 1,328 vehicles passed through the checkpoint, with 397 drivers screened. Officers issued eight citations for driving without a license or with a suspended/revoked license, and five for various traffic violations.
No drivers were arrested for driving under the influence.
DUI/CDL checkpoints are funded by state grants through the California Office of Traffic Safety, with money provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The checkpoints are promoted as a way to deter impaired driving, educate the public, and increase safety awareness.
“Impaired drivers put others on the road at significant risk,” Commander Jeremy Boshnack said in advance of the operation. “Any prevention measures that reduce the number of impaired drivers on our roads significantly improves traffic safety.”
But with no impaired drivers cited, some may ask whether these checkpoints are the best use of limited police resources and taxpayer-funded state grants. Could the same officers have been deployed more effectively on patrol, where they might directly spot dangerous driving behaviors?
On the other hand, supporters argue the lack of DUI arrests could mean the checkpoint worked as intended — discouraging people from driving drunk in the first place.
The LBPD maintains that impaired driving remains a serious risk, whether from alcohol, marijuana, or certain medications. Drivers convicted of a first-time DUI face an average of $13,500 in fines and penalties, along with a suspended license.
Whether checkpoints like the one in East Long Beach are a deterrent or a drain on resources is a question likely to resurface as similar operations continue to be scheduled.